Last November of 2018, Ariana Grande’s single, “Thank U, Next” broke records when the single became the most streamed song with almost 50 million streams in the first week of its release. The song garnered much attention because the singer publicly revealed her past. In the song, Ariana said that each time a relationship ends, she felt pain but at the same time she is grateful because of the lessons that she learned from each one. She knows that all those past experiences will help her somehow with her future relationships. She is now a better person and a stronger one at that because of what she had to go through. More than simply controversial and entertaining, the song has a valuable lesson. That is, how to not get stuck in the past.
Bad things do happen in life. Things don’t always come our way whether it is our career, business, health, family, love or relationships. It can be very painful especially if we did our very best to make it work. Some people get stuck and allow the hurt from past experiences to continue to hurt them. However, not moving on can only succeed in jeopardizing future happiness. After whether we like it or not, life goes on.
Here are some tips on how to not get stuck in the past:
1.Learn from the Past
Have you ever wondered why we have to take up History in school? That is because history gives valuable lessons. Learning from past mistakes will allow us to grow and not repeat the same mistake over again. Even the COVID-19 pandemic has lessons that we can apply to make our lives better. Learn the lesson, no matter how painful so that you can start to move on.
2.Be Grateful
Yes, it is possible to be grateful even in tough times. Be grateful for the experience. It may sound cliche but challenges are blessings in disguise. Whatever it is that you had to go through was really meant for you to grow and become a better person. Moreover, by being grateful you are shifting your focus from the negative to the positive. A positive attitude can help ease the burden that you are carrying.
Thank you, next.
– Ariana Grande
3. Forgive Those Who Wronged You
When you forgive someone, it does not mean that you are condoning the wrong things. It does not mean forgetting and reconciling with the other person.What it simply means is that you are now releasing and freeing yourself from the anger, resentment, guilt and other negative emotions. This will do wonders to your emotional state and general well-being. The act of forgiveness does not only pertain to other people but also yourself. You need to learn to forgive and love yourself.
Did you know that success happens outside of your comfort zone? Your comfort zone is your safe place. Since you are comfortable in that place, there is really no room for growth because there is no need to. Stepping outside of your comfort zone means doing new things that you are not comfortable with. You will need to learn new skills and adapt to a changing environment but there will be transition and growth in the process. It is similar to a caterpillar undergoing metamorphosis. Don’t remain a caterpillar all your life. Find your genius zone and be a beautiful butterfly.
6. Remove Toxic People From Your Life
Did you know that you are the average of the five people you spend most of your time with? Your thoughts, beliefs and actions are highly influenced by the people around you. Thus, it is important to choose the people you spend most of your time with. Remove negative people from your life. Spend time with positive and supportive individuals instead.
7. Believe in Yourself
Fear is crippling. It can hold you back in life. That is why it is important to learn how to overcome fear. Conquer your fears by trusting yourself. Believe in yourself. Trust that you can do great things.
In short, allow yourself to feel the pain then move on. Don’t dwell on it. Get yourself ready for the next adventure.
Updated version. First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 11.17.2018
The world is moving at a rapid pace towards digitalization. Sooner or later, we will be living in a world of paperless existence and our smart phones will take the place of our credit cards and paper money. Businesses are trying to automate. People of all ages, are trying hard to familiarize themselves with technology. Gone were the days were you have to wait for the bills in your mail. With all these changes, how to adapt to the digital world?
Digital Transformation
What is digital transformation? Digital transformation is the use of technology in all areas of the business. With digital transformation, you are not only changing the business processes. You are also changing the status quo. It is a cultural change that will ultimately alter the habits of people. For instance, in the new normal, employees will be working remotely from home. There will be restrictions in in-person contacts and interactions. As the businesses change, people will also begin to change.
Although the world is already going towards digital transformation, the pandemic accelerated the process. If business owners will not adapt soon, their businesses might suffer. As businesses begin to digitize, people are forced to adapt and learn new technology, applications and processes.
Tips on How To Adapt to the Digital World
Here are some tips on how to adapt to the digital world:
1. Be Open to Change
If you think the world will go back to how it was before COVID-19, think again. We are in a whole new world. There is no going back. So, stop resisting. Learn to let go. Be open to change. Be open to new experiences.
2. Learn Technology
It will be difficult to live life in the new normal without learning technology. Technology is a mainstay in the contemporary world. It is already a part of our world from banking, medicine, retailing, and communications.
3. Upgrade Knowledge and Skills
As more and more business processes become automated, jobs that used to be done by humans will now be done by robots. So, it is best to upgrade your knowledge and skills, In order to remain competitive, basic knowledge on technical and digital know-how is now a basic requirement.
4. Invest in Technology
Technology is now a necessity. As employees begin to work at home, children also began online learning. Technology is now needed to work, study, earn, pay your bills, and communicate with others. Thus, it is important to invest in gadgets such as computers, smart phones including the internet.
As the world economy slows down because of the pandemic, many business had closed. This forced millions of people to unemployment and underemployment. As a result, hundreds of thousands of small businesses emerged. But starting a business is hard. Making your business a success is even harder. If you think that a brilliant idea coupled with a sound business plan is enough, think again. There will always be moments of uncertainties. Different challenges will arise on a daily basis like hiring the right people, branding, market positioning, customer care, money management and even personal fatigue. That is why it is important to have a mentor or learn from those who already succeeded. Getting a few tips in succeeding in your own business can really help new business owners.
I know of many people who tried to put up businesses and failed. They tried multiple times but still to no avail. There are a few who persisted until they have succeeded. I’ve asked one of them for tips on how to succeed in doing business, and this is what he had to say:
1. Establish a Good Name
A good name is more than just a good business name. It is establishing a good brand. A brand pertains to the company’s reputation. It is the sum total of how others see and perceive your business. Dealing with your customers and suppliers take a very important role. It is also about
building credibility as far as payables and credit are concern. It is how you handle your after sales service. The relationship with customers does not end right after the sales. It goes beyond that. Most importantly, it is about the quality of your product or service. The key here is trust. People should trust your brand. That trust in turn will convert to not just loyal customers but to new customers as well.
2. Customer is Not Always Right
The customer is always right. Occasionally however, you will encounter customers who have their own emotional biases on certain things. If you sense a problem, a complaint or a disagreement, it is your duty as a business owner to guide your customers. Explain your thoughts in an amicable way. Give proper explanation on your products or service details. Do a demonstration if necessary.
Remember that everyone has their own forte. You are the expert in your craft. Help the customer understand the pros and cons of the situation. Explain clearly why you think a specific product or service is the one that best suits their preferences. Make them understand the logic behind it.
3. Do Something that you Love Doing
Running a business is always a challenge. There will be good days but there will also be bad days, more so during early stages. It is hard. You never know what to expect. There will be blood, sweat and tears. You will need to work until the wee hours. There will be little compensation. You might even find yourself in financial woes. Your family and friends might begin to question you. And worst, you might even end up doubting yourself.
The only thing that will keep you going is if you love what you are doing. If you enjoy what you are doing, then you will be exceptionally passionate about it. You will never get tired and will not give up on things easily. Your passion will become your key to success.
4. Learn from your Mistakes.
Mistakes are inevitable. So, don’t be scared to fail. Failure is part of success. What is important is that you keep trying. Learn from your mistakes. Analyze what went wrong and then focus on what you can do to make it right. Adopt measures on how to prevent that same mistake from happening again. It is a waste of time and energy to play the blame game. Just acknowledge that it is all a part of the learning process. Apply the lessons for the improvement of your business.
5. Work With Your People and Not Against Them
Difficult people do exist in any organization. They don’t do their work as agreed upon. They will insist on their own views or way of doing things. Some people won’t even show up when you expect them to. Dealing with these people drastically each time will not address the problem. You will only see yourself in the exact same situation but with a different person.
The best thing to do is to equip yourself with certain skills that will help you deal with these kind of individuals. First and foremost, you need to learn to control your temper. Understand where the person is coming from. Get their perspective on things. Accept the fact that you don’t know everything. Listen to their suggestions even if you are the boss. Be always open to change. Who knows, they might have a better idea on the task at hand. If it doesn’t work, explain your side of things. Let the person understand your expectations and views on the matter. Focus on the things that you both can do going forward. What is important is that there should be mutual respect.
Credits and special thanks to Mickey Pascual for the business advice. Mickey Pascual is the owner/CEO of Mickey’s Autosound, holder of the King of Sound title in the Philippines for 3 consecutive years now. He started the business more than 20 years ago while he was still in college because of his love for car audio. Mickey continuously gives his best to improve his craft and goes to Germany every other year for the European Mobile Media Assocation (EMMA) Judges Training. He has been invited numerous times to judge EMMA competitions worldwide.
Updated version. First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 05.10.2019.
Feeling lost in life? Then, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is for you. One of the best-selling books of all time, the Alchemist is about the story of a young shepherd boy, Santiago and his quest to find treasures in the pyramids. The story is more than just your typical fiction stories. It is a philosophical book that will give you a better understanding of what life truly is all about. It is about listening to your heart, chasing your dreams and pursuing your destiny. There are so many powerful and valuable life lessons from The Alchemist that every person should read this book at least once in their life.
Here are 10 Valuable Life Lessons I’ve learned The Alchemist.
1. Life is Continuous Learning
Life is a continuous learning process. We can only grow us a person if we broaden our horizon and discover new things. Santiago knew this. Although a shepherd boy, Santiago loves to read books. He was able to dream of faraway places because he read about them.
Santiago also listens and seeks advice from people who are smarter than him. Throughout his journey, he met people along the way that served as his mentors– the king, the merchant, the Englishman and the alchemist.
Sadly, many people stopped learning after school. That is the reason why they got stuck in life. Others are too proud to ask advice from others. They think they know everything. The moment you think that you know everything is the start of your downfall.
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
– Socrates
Santiago also learns from experience. His quest for the treasure was not smooth sailing. He made mistakes along the way but he learned from them.
There are so many valuable lessons to be learned throughout your life’s journey. Master the lesson. If you think that you have the same problem over and over again, that is because you have not learned the lesson yet. This applies in all aspects of your life whether it be your finances, career, health and even your relationships. Learn the lesson from past events, apply it and move on.
2. Always Look at the Bright Side
Santiago always find the good things in a bad situation no matter how big or small it is. Instead of complaining about how he had to carry the weight of his jacket in the heat of the sun, he remembered how that jacket kept him warm during winter nights. Likewise, he could have wallowed in self-pity when he lost everything in Africa; but he chose to change his perspective. Instead of looking at himself as a victim, he looked at himself as an adventurer in a foreign country.
In both cases, notice that both situations can be viewed negatively. But Santiago chose to look at them differently. Instead of of the negative, he looked for the positive. It is all about themindset.
3. Follow your Dreams
Ever since Santiago was a child, he wanted to travel the world. His parents wanted him to become a priest. Rather than adhering to his parents’ wishes, he summoned enough courage to talk to his dad to tell him that he wants to do something else in life. Instead of becoming a priest, Santiago decided to become a shepherd so he can travel.
That’s the problem with most of us. We become victims of other people’s definition of success. We follow a different path because that is what our family and society expected from us. As a result, we lost track of our destiny. What used to be very clear when we were young seems to be impossible when we grow up.
The thing is no matter how successful we become with our chosen path, there will always be a feeling of emptiness. You will never be truly happy if you are not doing your purpose in life. Destiny is what you always want to accomplish. If you feel that something is lacking despite having everything, that is life’s way of telling you that you are not doing what you were born to do.
Follow your passion. Wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure. Pursue your destiny if you don’t want to spend the rest of your life with regret.
4. Give 10 Percent
Giving a tenth of your income to others is a form of gratitude to God for all the blessings that we have received. We have an obligation to share a portion of what we have. The only way for us to receive more blessings is when we learn to give first. Don’t promise to give what you don’t have yet. If it is hard for you to give when you have little, it will be harder to share when you have more. Give 10% of what you have right now.
5. The Simplest Things in Life are the Most Extraordinary
The secret to happiness is to be able to appreciate the beauty of your day to day life. It is seeing the wonders of the world and the beauty of the little things that we normally take for granted like the flowers, the scenery and the people around us.
Take pleasure in the simple things.
Happiness is never about the destination but rather it is about enjoying the journey. Each day matters. Every second counts. Learn to love everyday. Show the people around you how much you care. It’s all about mindfulness.
Towards the end of our life, the simple things like the time we spend with our family is what truly matters. True happinessboils down to the quality of our relationship with others. It is best that you cherish every moment while you still can.
6. Negative Things Happen in Life Because They Prepare our Spirit and our Will
Bad things happen to everyone, even to good people. These things happen not because we are being punished but because they are necessary for our growth. The pain that we experience in our lives actually prepares our spirit and our will in realising our destiny.
The road to the fulfilment of our dreams is never easy. There will be bumps along the way. Sometimes, we will be forced to make detours. We need to make some adjustments but the destination remains the same. The important thing is to keep on going forward. Once we have succeeded in overcoming life’s challenges, we become better persons.
You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.
– Steve Jobs
The roadblocks that we will encounter are all part of a master plan. They all happened for a reason. It is difficult to understand at the moment but everything will make sense once you have found your treasure.
7. When you Want Something, All the Universe Conspires in Helping you Achieve it
Have you heard of The Secret? The Secret is actually the Law of Attraction. It states that if you really want something and you focus your thoughts on that, the universe will give it to you.
This belief system has been mentioned several times throughout the book, that there is a force out there that guides us. Whether you call it God, the Universe or the Soul of the World; that force is always nearby especially to those who wants to realise their destinies.
We should learn to recognise the omens or the signs and follow them. Sometimes, it appears as a solution or an idea. Sometimes, it presents itself as a direct message from somebody whom you are having a conversation with. Remember, there is no such thing as coincidence. There is a reason why you bumped into an old friend or why you are reading this article right now. We have to listen to what the universe is telling us. We also need to listen inward to our intuition.
In the same way, that if you think that the world is out there to get you, negative things will start happening your way. Thus, you have to be careful of what you think and what you say. In the story, when the monk told the alchemist that his payment goes well beyond his generosity; the alchemist quickly told the monk not to say it because life is listening. What the alchemist meant was that the universe responds to thoughts; thus, the monk might receive less next time.
There were numerous times when Santiago could have just given up, when he lost everything in Africa, when he had enough money to go back to Andalusia after working for the merchant or when he met Fatima in the desert oasis; but still he persevered.
Your treasure can only be uncovered after a series of tests. The closer you get to your dreams, the harder it will become. It takes a lot of courage, patience and persistence to finally be able to achieve your destiny.
9. Success Happens Outside your Comfort Zone
Santiago was already traveling as a shepherd boy but he sold his flock of sheep to go to Africa. After a year in Africa, he already earned enough money to either stay there or to go back to Andalusia but he chose to go to the desert. While in the desert oasis, Santiago had met the love of his life and earned the respect of the community but still, he opted to continue his quest for the treasure.
In all three scenarios, Santiago was already successful and comfortable with his life but he gave them all up to continue his journey and pursue his destiny. Just what do you think would have happened in the story if he decided to stay in his comfort zone. Do you think, he would have found his treasure?
In reality, many people don’t like change or are scared of change. As much as we want to pursue our dreams, we are more scared of disappointment. We are scared that we might lose everything that we have worked for if we are going to start anew. We would rather stay in our comfort zone. This is the reason why people get stuck in life whether it is a bad relationship or a job that they don’t like. Fear is one of the biggest obstacles that is keeping us from achieving our dreams.
10. Everyone has His Own Destiny
If a person is successful in one area, it does not mean that you too will be successful in that same area. It is because each person has his own destiny to fulfil. His way is not the same as yours. So, don’t compare yourself with others.
No matter who we are, everyone has a central role to play in the history of the world. Each one of us is unique. Embrace your uniqueness. As the Englishman said, we all can’t become alchemist, otherwise, gold will lose its value.
Good luck on your journey and I hope you find your treasure!
First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 08.24.2018
Feature Image from Free Image and mbll from Pixabay Images.
You need a mentor to fast track your way to success. However, finding a good mentor is not that easy. You cannot just choose anybody that you like. There are some things that you need to consider first in finding a good mentor.
1. Define your Goals
First, ask yourself, what is it that you want? What do you want to achieve in life? Do you want to be successful in a specific field? Are you aiming for a healthy and sexy body? Do you want to be wealthy? What are your goals in life?
Your choice of mentor is highly dependent on what your goals are. Just because somebody is successful does not necessarily mean that that person is the best person to be your mentor. Your mentor’s achievements should be in line with what you want to achieve in life.
2. Be Specific
Once you have defined your goals, you should now look for someone who already achieved whatever it is that you want to achieve. Ask yourself, is there somebody whom you aspire to be like? Who is your role model?
You should not limit yourself to just one mentor. You can have as many as you deem necessary. For example, your wealth mentor may not necessarily be your health mentor. That’s why you need to be specific not just in identifying what you want but in identifying the people whom you think had achieved success in that particular aspect in their lives.
3. Look into Expertise
One of the things that you need to consider in finding a good mentor is his/her level of expertise on the subject. If you want to grow your finances, you need to look for people who know how to handle and grow their money. If you want to have a perfect body, you need to look for people who have perfect body themselves. You want to have a healthy relationship with your partner, you need to look for people who have been in a happy relationship for years. The point is, your mentor should be an expert in that particular field.
There are people who asked money advice from people who are in financial situations worst than them. In the same way, that there are people who asked relationship and marital advice from their single friends.
It is like this, if you want to learn how to play tennis, will you ask a person who doesn’t know how to play tennis to teach you? Of course not! You are going to look for a couch who is an expert in playing tennis. This should also be the case when it comes to finding mentors. Look for someone who has been that road before.
4. Build Authentic Relationships
The best place to look for a mentor is around you. Are there people around you whom you respect and admire? Are there people whom you look up to?
Once you have identified these people, make an effort to build authentic relationships with them. Attend social gatherings. Connect with these people. Keep in touch. These small interactions can help you build a genuine relationship with them. You cannot just simply approach a stranger to be your mentor. It is best that you establish a good personal relationship with them first.
5. Read
Although a personal relationship with a mentor is always better, books about and written by people whom you admire can also be a form of mentorship. Just like a real person, books also have the power to change your thinking and beliefs. Many people succeeded in changing the way they look at things simply by reading books. For instance, if you want to be successful and wealthy, read books about wealth and success.
This is especially useful if there are no people around you who are experts in that particular field that you want to excel to. There are tons of information available out there even in the internet about famous and successful people. Read about them. Learn from their stories and apply the lessons in your life.
If you are not the reading type of person, you can still watch videos of interviews or you can listen to podcasts. The point is the information is available out there.
Good luck in finding a good mentor!
Updated Version. First Published in Pinoy Smart Living in 06.28.2019.
Feature Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Images.
Life is exciting. We all want to create and accomplish something that we can call our own – something that we can be proud of. However, the reality is it is not always easy. Life is hard. There will be many obstacles along the way. True, we can just try to navigate it on our own and learn from the process. That is one way of doing it. But, what if there is a shortcut?
Let’s look at it this way. Both the billionaire and the average worker have 24 hours a day. Do you think the billionaire works harder than the average worker? More than simply working hard, what differentiates the two is that the billionaire has learned to work smarter. That is why you need a mentor for success.
You see, there is that long road to success but there is a better way. It is shorter but it entails you to learn from someone else, someone who has already been there. Someone who is smarter than you and someone who can teach you everything you need to know in order to succeed. This someone is what you call a mentor.
Every great achiever is inspired by a great mentor.
– Lailah Gifty Akita
By definition, a mentor is an experienced and trusted adviser. A mentor is someone who can inspire you and guide you and is an expert in that particular field. A mentor can also help you go think through challenges in life. Having the guidance and support of a mentor will do wonders to your professional and personal life.
However, it is not that easy to receive advise from others. It is difficult to follow especially if we have our own ideas and ways in doing things. That is why in order to receive coaching, you must first be open to learning. You need to accept the fact that you don’t know everything. You need a mentor for success if you want your path to be easier and faster.
The only True Wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
– Socrates
You need other people in order to succeed. Their expertise and resources will help you achieve your goals faster. Get help, support and feedback from mentors. That is how you become great.
If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.
Understanding basic money terms should be your first step towards financial literacy. It would be very difficult to start learning financial literacy, much more overhaul your financial life without understanding the basics. Just like reading for example, you won’t be able to learn how to read without knowing the alphabet. In the same way, you will never truly be able to handle your money if you are not familiar with some basic terms about personal finance.
These terms will serves as building blocks in the world of finance. Hence, a deeper understanding of the many terms of concepts of the financial world is crucial in making good personal financial decisions.
Learning and understanding some basic personal finance vocabulary is your first step towards financial freedom.
There are many important personal finance terms. But to make it easier, we have narrowed down the list to ten terms that will help you understand the basics of personal finance.
Here are 10 basic terms that you should know about personal finance:
1. Assets
Assets are any resources with economic value. Sample assets include certificates of deposits, bonds, funds, stocks, real estate or business.
A new definition was introduced by Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad. He redefined assets as economic sources that you own that generate income for you. A
An asset is something that puts money in your pocket.
2. Credit
Credit is an agreement where the borrower receives something usually money or any other product or service with value with a promise to pay in the future within a specific time frame, usually with interest. In short, credit pertains to agreement between borrower and lender. Examples of credits are home loans, car loans, consumer and personal loans and credit cards.
3. Compound Interest
Compound interest is the addition of interest on the principal amount of your loan, savings or investments. In short, it is interest on interest. Thus, it has the capability to grow at an increasing amount. Use this concept to your advantage and your wealth will increase. However, this concept can also work against you especially if you have credit card debts. This is how credit card companies earn. Protect yourself and understand this concept so as not to end up a victim of enormous credit card debt.
4. Depreciation
Depreciation is the lowering of the value of an asset over time, usually because of wear and tear. Depreciable assets in your home include your cars, cellphone, appliances and furnitures. For example, if you bought a car worth million a year ago, you can no longer sell that car for the same price today because the value of the car already went down. That is depreciation. Buying depreciable assets on credit is not recommended.
5. Inflation
Inflation is a finance concept that everyone should know because it affects everybody. When the value of your money declines, that is inflation. It simply means that the same amount of money that you are holding now can purchase less goods compared to last year. So, if you have money placed in a regular savings or current account, you are loosing money every year even if you are not actually withdrawing money from your account because of inflation.
6. Financial Freedom
Financial Freedom is the state wherein you are already living your ideal lifestyle without having to work for money. You can be enjoying yourself somewhere in the Bahamas and yet continue to receive money regularly.
Financial Freedom is achieved when your passive income is greater than your monthly expenses.
7. Liabilities
Liabilities are amount that you owe somebody, a company or the bank. They are your debts and financial obligations. Your liabilities include your bills, home loan, car loan, credit card debts and other consumer and personal loans.
8. Mortgage
A mortgage is a loan in which a property or real estate is used as collateral. A collateral serves as security for the loan. Ownership of the real estate is conditional until all obligations and monthly payments are met. This is your typical housing loan.
You are not the owner of your real estate until you have fully paid your mortgage.
9. Net Worth
Your net worth is the monetary equivalent of all your assets added together minus all your liabilities. In short, your net worth is the value of everything you own minus your debts.It is a gauge to measure your financial well-being or how wealthy you are.
NET WORTH = ASSETS - LIABILITIES
High income does not necessarily mean high net worth. A janitor without debt can be considered more wealthy than a company president whose liabilities are greater than his assets.
10. Passive Income
Passive income is money that you receive on a regular basis with minimal work requirement or without you having to work. This income is generated through your investments or assets.
Examples of passive income are:
rental payments from your real estate properties
dividends and capital appreciation from stocks and funds
interests payments on bonds
royalties
income from investments
retirement income
This is the opposite of earned income wherein you need to work or exchange your time, skills and expertise to earn income. Example of earned income is your salary.
First Published in Pinoy Smart Living on 11.13.2018
Our lives are always undergoing change. Change always brings with it some stress and discomfort. After all, change entails that we adapt to new things, new people, new situations. It puts us in a place where we have to go out of our comfort zones. Unless we learn to adapt, we will always be uncomfortable with the changes around us.
When things change, the more you resist, the harder it will be for you. It’s because when things around you change; you need to change yourself too in order to adapt. On the other hand, if you want things around you to change; you need to transform yourself first.
There will be times when the wind beneath your wings blows as a hurricane. That is not time for self pity. It is time to be thankful that you learned how to fly.
— Patti Dawn Swanson, Sierra
In order to change, you will need not only your internal motivation but also external resources to help you succeed. You might need to learn a new skill, seek the help of a mentor or coach, read books, take an online course or watch video tutorials to acquire new skills and knowledge. These are important components that will help you soar into your transformation. They are like the wind beneath your wings that will help keep you afloat amidst the storms in your life so you can come out better than you were before.
Imagine change as a wave of ups and downs that you have to go through in life. Most of us will initially change this downward motion. These are the times when we feel down and even directionless. We often feel anxious and full of worries. It’s times like this when we think that our fears are becoming reality. The present seems out of our control and the future looks bleak and even scary.
Change is like a test or a series of tests. Each test you overcome will help you become the person you want to be so you can live the life you want. Instead of resisting change, recognize that it is an opportunity to better yourself and level up your life. When you take the time and effort to allow for your own transformation; you will find that the world is transformed as well.
Are you constantly worried about money? How is your financial situation during the lockdown? Are you struggling to make ends meet? Do you have enough savings to go through this pandemic? Are you struggling to meet debt obligations? Are you living from paycheck to paycheck? Do you feel that your salary is not enough to cover your monthly expenses? Are your financial worries so stressful that they are already gravely affecting all aspects of your life including your health and personal relationships? Well, there is a solution to your problem. That is, a basic understanding of finance. Financial literacy can change your life for the better.
What will you do when you have money problems? Most people will look for ways to earn more money by sacrificing their time and health. They will either get a second job or work overtime just to raise the needed money. Other people will resort to borrowing money. However, not all loans are created equal. There are good loans and bad loans. Some loans like credit cards charge high interests and can easily spiral out of control especially if you don’t know how to use them. There are some who will simply rely on government support. While these strategies may help ease your financial burdens in the short term, it is not going to permanently solve your money issues in the long run.
There is only one solution to money problems and that is financial literacy.
The single biggest difference between financial success and financial failure is how well you manage your money. It’s simple: to master money, you must manage money. –
T. Harv Eker
Financial literacy is essential in having a secure financial future. Unfortunately, financial literacy was never thought in school. For most people, the yearning to learn financial literacy only comes when they are already faced with financial crisis.
Academic qualifications are important and so is financial education. They’re both important and schools are forgetting one of them.
Robert Kiyosaki
So, what exactly is financial literacy? Wikipedia defines financial literacy as ” the possession of the set of skills and knowledge that allows an individual to make informed and effective decisions with all of their financial resources”.
In short, financial literacyis simply understanding money and how it works. It is knowing how to budget, how to pay your bills, how to borrow money responsibly, how to save, invest and prepare for retirement. Financial literacy will help you make good financial decisions in your everyday life that will ultimately affect your overall financial situation and change your life for the better.
Working hard is simply not enough. You can be a graduate of a four-year course, have a master’s degree or even a doctorate degree but know nothing about personal finance. Even if you are earning millions, you can still end up poor if you know nothing about how money works. It is not about how much money you make but it is all about what you do with the money that you earn that matters.
It is not about how much money you make. The question is are you educated enough to keep it.
Shaquille O’Neal
More so, have you ever wondered why the rich is becoming richer and the poor becoming poorer? Contrary to popular belief, it is not because the rich are all crooks. Neither it is the government’s fault. If you want to know the answer to this question, invest your time in financial education and soon you will find out that the only thing that is stopping you from being wealthy is you.
Make your first step and start your journey towards financial literacy now.
And remember, financial literacy is a lifelong journey. It will not end by simply reading just one book. It is something that you need to learn throughout your life if you want to achieve complete financial freedom.
Edited version. First published in Pinoy Smart Living 10.19.2018Feature Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay Images
Traveling helps you grow as a person. When you travel, you learn about new things. You also discover a world that is different from yours. In the process, you change. When you get home, you are no longer the same person as you used to be.
Learn
Reading books will make you grow as a person. You will have access to a vast range of information. It will entertain you and stimulate your creativity. It will also open your eyes to a new whole world that is different from your reality and make you dream and aspire to become a better version of yourself.
“The world is a book, and those that do not travel read only a page.”
– St. Augustine
St. Augustine of Hippo, said to be one of the most intelligent saints who ever lived, believed in the value of traveling. He correlated reading with traveling. Just like in reading books, travelling will also help you grow as a person. You will see different places and things. You will be exposed to various people, cultures, and beliefs. Because your learn from your travels. traveling helps you grow.
Discover
When you just stay at home or in your area, everything that you do are all habits. Everything is automatic and just merely a part of your routine. However, when you travel, you become alert of your surrounding. You begin to plan and everything that you do will involve decision making. You will also be exposed to a different way of doing things.
Change
When you get back home from your travel. Somehow, a part of you has changed. You begin to look at things differently. You are no longer the same person as you used to be.
If you want to start anew, it is recommended that you travel. Go to a place where you have never been before. Look around you. How is the place different from yours? Observe the locals’ way of life. Are there lessons that you can learn from them? Then think about your life. How do you live your life? Are you contented with where you are right now? What aspects in your life would you like to improve? Being in a new place will help you get a new perspective in who you are and where you want to be. Aim to do this on a regular basis. Make traveling to a place you have never been before at least once a year.
Go out there and travel if you want to grow as a person. So, what are your travel goals for this year?
First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 12.20.2018 Image Credit: Lothar Dieterich from Pixabay Images
